Adamboesel wrote:Hey all! Having a surprisingly hard time figuring out how to get from portland to seattle. It appears I need an aerovironment membership to use the quick chargers?...If anyone could give insight on how to plan the trip most efficiently, make sure I can use the quick chargers, etc., I'd appreciate it.

Here is my trip report from Portland to Centralia, Wa.. One more hop and we would have been in Seattle. You can read more details here (link).

How has the network fared up there in the Pacific Northwest since they started charging the subscription ($20 /month?)

Have the Nissan Leaf's taken over wit their free 'No charge' program giving away free charging.

I've also heard their are relaibility issues with using the AeroVironment and Blink fast charge stations. Has anyone had any issues. Was thinking of just brining my moded Clipper Creek along the way and finding RV plugs incase.

pkulak wrote:I've literally never been unable to charge at a Aerovironment charger, and that's in dozens of quick charges over the last year or so. Best $20 I spend each month.

+1 If they are within reach of your home, they are one of the most reliable and available systems out there. I just wish they would put two more in, one at the Wanapum Dam and one in Umatilla. Then we actually get back and forth between SEA, PDX, and PSC.

pkulak wrote:I've literally never been unable to charge at a Aerovironment charger, and that's in dozens of quick charges over the last year or so. Best $20 I spend each month.

+1 If they are within reach of your home, they are one of the most reliable and available systems out there. I just wish they would put two more in, one at the Wanapum Dam and one in Umatilla. Then we actually get back and forth between SEA, PDX, and PSC.

I just wish whomever signed whatever contract it was that gave Blink every large metro area looks over that thing and finds some clause to use to rip it to shreds. Some reliable chargers in Portland and Seattle would be fantastic. But, that's all I really have to complain about. That and the old-school connectors they use, even on new installs.

pkulak wrote:I've literally never been unable to charge at a Aerovironment charger, and that's in dozens of quick charges over the last year or so. Best $20 I spend each month.

+1 If they are within reach of your home, they are one of the most reliable and available systems out there. I just wish they would put two more in, one at the Wanapum Dam and one in Umatilla. Then we actually get back and forth between SEA, PDX, and PSC.

living on the northern edge of the AV boundary makes it very inconvenient for me. I rarely have a reason to go South

pkulak wrote:I've literally never been unable to charge at a Aerovironment charger, and that's in dozens of quick charges over the last year or so. Best $20 I spend each month.

+1 If they are within reach of your home, they are one of the most reliable and available systems out there. I just wish they would put two more in, one at the Wanapum Dam and one in Umatilla. Then we actually get back and forth between SEA, PDX, and PSC.

living on the northern edge of the AV boundary makes it very inconvenient for me. I rarely have a reason to go South

Not, really. From PDX/Vancouver we can use AV to go North to Olympia, to The Dalles, to Central Oregon and up and down I-5 and the Oregon Coast. Charge at home to skip Blink unless you can use Blink L2 at home or in the community.

ok, let me clarify a bit. There is a 100+ mile gap from the Tumwater Station to the southern most station north of Seattle. Living in Lacey (7 miles North of Tumwater) with office in Tacoma (30 miles North of Tumwater) means that is where I go 9 of 10 days for work. Occasionally I am in the Olympia area (4X this month) but its rare for me to be in Centrailia. We do have work there but also have a Supervisor will lives just North of there so she gets most of those jobs as she should. So previously I would be in the area 1-2 times a month. well that has dried up to "haven't been there one time in the past 6 months"

This thing about AV not being in the same area as Blink is truly a devastating decision. Blink has greatly underperformed while AV has been pretty much rock solid.